FLASH - FUTURES END #1

[ FLASH INTO A FUTURE DEAL ] 

Many years in the future the world will be changed forever more. Robert Venditti will be married to Van Jensen. Brett Booth will be they're bridesmaid. And DC Comics will give them away, but only if they can remember who got Robert pregnant in September, 2014. It was Brett.

To QUOTE William Shakespeare: 'It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves'.

THE STORY:

'Hey! What do you think you're playing at?' says five-years-in-the-future-Flash to twenty-years-in-the-future-Flash. 'Well, I just killed the Reverse Flash, haven't I?' replies twenty-years in turn, 'If I didn't do that he would have caused the deaths of Wally and Iris. And none of us want to see that happening, do we?'.

'Yeah. I suppose your right.... errr... future me. So... hmmm... are you going anywhere nice for you holiday?' says five-years. 'As a matter of fact, yes, yes I am' replies twenty-years, 'I'm going to take a trip to the speed-force and fix a past mistake we both saw happening years ago'.

And so finally it came to pass that two Flashes fought in a future that could possibly be relevant to this exact point in time. Who wins? Who dies? And how does the death of one hero cause the birth of another? Pick up this issue and find out for yourself, sugar-pie.

THE GOOD:

As much as I loved looking at Brett's dynamic visuals, as well as following Robert and Van's action packed story-line, what I loved about this issue the most was how well it seamlessly fit into this whole 'Futures End' scenario.

Honestly, dear readers. It was rather refreshing to read one of these 'one-off specials' without trying to figure out how it's placed within modern day continuity. It was like reading a continuation from last issue, but with the added bonus of half knowing what's going to come up next.

Well, kind of. Even though half of this tale wasn't that surprising to read -- cause from the get go you could have guessed what was going to happen to a certain participant -- the other half of it was very-very surprising. And begs to ask the question, what next for Wally and co? Wink-wink!

THE BAD:

My only slight problem with this story-line was in that scene where the two Barry's finally confronted each other. Well. Let's face it. If you've just seen a future version of yourself kill someone that would have -- allegedly -- killed two people you profess to care for, would you just stand there and believe them at face value? I don't know if I would. And that is why I wasn't one hundred percent sold on this scene, because it did feel a little bit too staged for my own liking.

Also, how does this installment fit into this whole Futures End crossover event? If it does at all!

THE MUSIC:

In essence this adventure is about a man trying to save himself from a path less traveled. So with that in mind, it's over to you Christina Aguilera, with your pop ditty... 'Save Me From Myself'.

THE COMPARISON:

Sometimes sportsmen -- or sportswomen for that matter -- find that the hardest obstacles they have to overcome are provided by themselves. And so that is precisely what I am going to compare this comic book to. Sport's people in general. Always fighting themselves so they can succeed in life.

THE CONCLUSION:

At the very end of this adventure we see Future-Flash pop up in a fairly obvious location. So just for fun, can you guess what location it is out of the following eight options?

1. At Walmart during one of their sales.
2. Smack dab in Bethlehem at the birth of Christ.
3. Next to Adolph Hitler while he's having his mustache trimmed in a Berlin bunker.
4. Present day Central City.
5. At the front of the Titanic at the same time it head-butts an iceberg.  
6. On Bill Clintons lap while he's not having a relationship with Monica Lewinsky.
7. Behind the counter at a comic shop with a load of half-priced issues of Futures End.
8. Kim Kardashians butt crack.

Nuff said.